The Ukrainian National Olympic Committee has honoured the best athletes and coaches of June 2026

Opening the event, the President of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine and Olympic champion Vadym Guttsait congratulated the competition winners, thanked the athletes and coaches for their daily efforts, and emphasised that it is precisely thanks to such victories that the Ukrainian flag continues to fly high at the most prestigious international sporting events. 

“Our athletes’ victories inspire all Ukrainians and instil a belief in victory. I would like to thank our defenders for giving us the opportunity to compete, and the coaches, federations and the entire sporting community for their daily efforts to develop sport and secure new victories for Ukraine. Together, we truly are a team and a force to be reckoned with.”

Three-time Olympic medallist and canoeist Lyudmyla Luzan has been named the best female athlete of June 2026. At the European Championships in Montemor-o-Velho, Portugal, the Ukrainian became a four-time European champion, winning gold medals in the single canoe over the 200- and 500-metre distances, as well as in the double canoe over the 200- and 500-metre distances alongside Anastasia Rybachok. For Lyudmyla, this is her third victory in the Ukrainian NOC’s traditional competition, following wins in June 2023 and August 2025.

“I’d like to thank my coach for all the work, which very often goes unnoticed, but it is precisely thanks to this support that we’ve achieved such a good result. I really appreciate being on this journey right now, and having people who will always stand by me and believe in me; so this isn’t just my achievement, it’s a great team effort. We’ll keep working hard to deliver more impressive results.”

In the ‘Best Young Female Athlete of June 2026’ category, the winner was Yelyzaveta Pyvovarova, a trap shooter. At the Junior World Championships in Sülz, Germany, the Ukrainian athlete won a bronze medal in the skeet (round stand) discipline. This medal was Ukraine’s first ever at the Junior World Championships in this discipline.

“I want to thank everyone for their support, everyone who believed in me: the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine, the Federation, and its president personally – he is like a father to me and invests so much in me. I would also like to thank my personal coach for his work, his faith in me and his support.” 

The winners’ coaches were also honoured separately during the ceremony. Lyudmyla Luzan’s personal coach, Mykola Matsapura, was named Coach of the Month for June 2026. The award for Best Coach of a Young Female Athlete for June went to Yuriy Vashchuk, the personal coach of Yelyzaveta Pyvovarova.

The NOC of Ukraine also recognised the organisations that made a significant contribution to the winners’ training. Awards were presented to the Ukrainian Canoe Federation, the Ukrainian Shooting Federation and the ‘Dynamo’ Physical Culture and Sports Society of Ukraine.

The team at the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine warmly congratulates the winners, their coaches and the sports organisations on this well-deserved recognition. We wish them further victories, remarkable achievements and success in representing Ukraine on the international sporting stage!

The events organised by the NOC of Ukraine are supported by the following sponsors and partners: United Global Logistics, 4F, the Institute of Psychology and Entrepreneurship, Perets FM, the company ‘Cifra’, and Champion Radio.